Clutch control



April 12, 1927. 1,624,513

A. SMITH v CLUTCH common Filed May 1', 1926 gW/Mw Patented Apr. 12, 19 27..

UNITED sT rss .umnw aura, or ammonia, Wisconsin.

cnorcn common.

Application am in; 1.1920. mm Io. more This invention relates to clutch control i apparatus for use on automobiles.

It is well known that in the ordinary operation of an automobile an unskilled driver will frequently let his clutch suddenly into closing position with consequent jar and stresses imposed on the mechanism.

This invention is designed to overcome the defects noted above, and objects of such invention are to provide a novel form of clutch control device which will insurea smooth, uniform closing of. theclutch'without any thought on the part of the operator, whichwill permit quick opening of the clutch, and which is so constructed that-it may be bodily attached and carried by the clutch pedal lever without requiring any attachment to the body of the automobile,

or any adjustment.

'Further objects are to provide a novel form of clutch control device, which may be readily separated into its component parts for cleaning and removing-of dust or grit,

"and which is so constructed that it may easily and cheaply manufactured by ordinary machine shop practices. I

In general, this invention is an improvement over that disclosed in my co-pending application for clutch control devices, liled April 19 1926, Serial No. 102,969.

Embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in' which:

Figure l 15 a sectional view' through a portion of the automobile showing the device in position. v 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sec tional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the bottom cap of the device. Figure 4 is a fragmentary .view of a modified form. I

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the usual clutch pedal 1 is shown mounted belowv the body or floor 2 of the automobile. This clutch pedal carries the device which consists of .a main cylinder member 3 pfovided with an elongated attaching nec 4 through which the 'iston rod 5 passes. This neck is threade receives the nut 6, as most'clearly shown in Figure 2. ;Between the'nut and the body portion of the device a pair of clamping Q-arms 7 and 8 are positioned and are drawn towards each other b means of the nut and also by means of a olt 9. They are each provided with inwardly directedspaced lugs and Hmove slowly into clutch cl 10 which form between them channels for the reception of the clutch pedal lever 1.

The body portion 3 of the device is closed atits lower end bymeans of the removable cap 11 which is screwed thereon as shown in Figure 2. This cap is provided with a small exit aperture 12 for the air, such aperture being controlled by the eccentric washer 13. held in lace by means of a screw 14, as most clear y brought out in Figure 3. Within the cylindrical member 3 a piston is positioned which is formed of an up r plate 15 and a lower plate 16, between which the leather member 17 is clamped. This leather member is a cup-shaped member with downwardly turned marginal flanges of the well-known t It is to be noted from reference to F1gure 2 that the upper end of the cylinder3 is in free commumcation with the externalair by means of-the opening 18.

Thedevice is, as stated, ada ted to vbe carried wholly by the clutch pe a1 lever 1 with '-the piston rod 5 projecting u wardly through the neck 4. ,T e upper en of the' piston rod is provided with a head 19 which contacts with the floor or body portion 2 of the automobile.

If desired, a modified form of head, as indicated at 20 in Figure 4, may be'provided. This head is uip ed with a caster roller 21 so that it wi l 0 er the; minimum of friotion when contacting with the floor or body portion 2 of the automobile. In other words,

noted, however, when the clutch lever is moved downwardly, that f the piston is pressed upwardly by meansof the conical spring 22, such sprin movabl carried 1n the lower portiono than] V.

cylindrical member .3 and ultgmg the upwardly. However, when" e v leased and the lever moves toiilmrda clutch,"

closing positiontilsuch motion, by

eLclutch lever is allowedto "POBIGOD.

the device and that. a revided for 'insurin It is to be noted, further, that the device is so made that the bottom cap may be very tpiickl and easily removed and thereafter tie cy indrical portion may be wiped out or cleaned, as desired, in case any trash may have. accumulated within the member. Thus it is an easy matter to maintain the parts in an operative and serviceable condition for an indefinite length of time.

It is to be noted further that the device is entirel practical in construction and may be cheap yIand easily produced by ordinary machine op methods.

It is to be particularly noted that the device is bodily carried by the clutch dal and does not have to be attached to the dy portion of the automobile. It will be seen, therefore, that entire freedom from adjust ments of auxiliary lever mechanism is secured by this invention.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting lever, said memberhaving as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim 1. A clutch control device for automobiles carried said member for engaging said tion, and a piston mounte within said cylindrical portion and having a projecting piston rod p'rovided'with a ead located ex- .ternally of said cylindrical member, said cylindrical member hav' a bottom portion provided witha restric aperture.

2. A clutch control device for automobiles comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be bodil carried by the clutch lever, means carried said member-for engagin said lever,-

member havinga cylindrica pora cylindrical por tion, a piston mounted within said cylindri-v tied in the cylindrical portion and urging said piston upwardly.

3. A clutch control device adapted for attachment to the clutch pedal of an automobile, compirising a cylinder having an elongated nec clamping neck for engaging e clutch lever, a piston rod projecting through said neck and having a head on its roi'ecting end, a piston fitting within sai cy piston rod, a removable bottom cap c osin the end of said cylinder and provided with an opening, and a spring for urging said piston upwardly, said spring bein interposed betweensaid cap and said piston.

4. A clutch control device adapted for attachment to the'clutch al ofan autoaving a bottom portion providedv means carried by said 70 inder and carried b said mobile, comprising a cy inder having an elongated neck, clamping means carried by said neck for engaging the clutch lever, a piston rod projecting t rough said neck and iaving a head on its ro'ecting end, a piston fitting within sai cy inder and carried by said piston rod, a removable bottom 'cap 0 osing the end of said cylinder and provided with an opening, a spring for urgmg said piston upwardly, said spring being intEI'JJOSBd between said cap and said piston, an

means for adjustin said opening.

5. A device for c'ontro lin tion of the clutch dal 0? comprising a cylin er'having an elongated threaded neck, a piston rod said neck and having a has on'its projecting end, a piston positioned within said cylinder and carried bysaid rod, clampigg, ma,

means carried by said neck, a nut thread the closing moan automobile,

(passing through upon said neck and ur ing said clampin der andv having an aperture therethrou b,

-means towards each ot er to clamp suc means against the clutch pedal, a removable cap carried by the lowerend of said cylinan eccentric washer revolubly carried y said cap and adapted to adjustably constrict said a rture, and a conical spring inter posed tween said ca and said piston.

In testimony that claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee,

Milwaukee and State of I in the county of Wisconsin.

j, IaitDRnw SM-1TH.

noi 

